My name is Gregory Lippiatt and I am a Leverhulme Early Career Fellow researching at UEA in the school of History
Research interests:
Generally, I study baronial government in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. I am especially interested in their potential connexions with contemporary Christian movements of social and political reform that were being championed by the Cistercians, the friars, and the universities. My current project is a study of governments established by French crusaders around the Mediterranean—not only in Syria but also in Greece, in southern France, in Sicily—in the thirteenth century. My particular focus is on the theory and practice of these governments as they passed down through families, looking for points of continuity and divergence across cultural traditions and geographical regions.
What appealed to you about your fellowship?
The Leverhulme Early Career Fellowships are very generous, both in terms of time (three years) and freedom to pursue one’s own project. I was also very attracted to the School of History at UEA because of its great reputation and the strong medievalist community here.
“Life at the University has been wonderful; I’ve been made to feel very welcome…”
How's it going so far?
Very well. I've really enjoyed settling in with the School of History and digging into my research. I've already found some interesting leads for my project, and look forward to having the opportunity to pursue those further through archival research and location trips. Meanwhile, I've been able to have some very fruitful relationships and conversations with the members of the faculty here that have helped deepen my thinking about my work.
What's life at UEA like?
I have enjoyed being in a lively regional centre that has escaped the fate of being an exurb of London. Life at the University has been wonderful; I’ve been made to feel very welcome by my colleagues and the school staff.
Any advice for would-be-fellows?
Make sure that your project is something that inspires and animates you, rather than designing it for someone else. Find an institution that will cultivate that endeavour, rather than trying to fit yourself and your project into someone else's mould. I've found UEA to be a very encouraging environment for myself and my project, and that energy and interest will help maintain momentum on my project for the next three years.
Gregory's Project
My current project is a study of governments established by French crusaders around the Mediterranean—not only in Syria but also in Greece, in southern France, in Sicily—in the thirteenth century. My particular focus is on the theory and practice of these governments as they passed down through families, looking for points of continuity and divergence across cultural traditions and geographical regions.